IT’S WENGER 1 FERGIE SON 0
Walcott earns Gunners narrow win over Rovers
Arsenal 1 Doncaster 0 ARSENE WENGER rolled out the red carpet for Sir Alex Ferguson – but ruined Fergie Jnr’s big night.
The Arsenal boss and the Scot used to be the biggest rivals in football, but their bitter feud has thawed so much that the ex-Manchester United chief was given the best seats in the house to watch his son Darren’s team.
Wenger even greeted his old managerial foe before the game, but the warm welcome did not extend to niceties on the pitch.
The Frenchman fielded a strong line-up against Doncaster manager Darren Ferguson’s League One side, with Theo Walcott’s first-half goal proving the difference between the teams.
Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Walcott were among the big guns to get a run-out, while Jack Wilshere starred on his first start at the Emirates in 19 months. The midfielder was outstanding as he picked passes, ran the game and set up chances as well as tracking back to perhaps prove his Arsenal career is not over just yet.
Wilshere, with a new-look shaven-head haircut, was clearly in the mood to impress and the Arsenal fans loved it.
He was behind one of the Gunners’ best moments when his delightful chipped pass set up Giroud and the France striker’s spectacular bicycle kick crashed against the bar after six minutes.
Wilshere was involved again after 20 minutes following a lovely exchange with Reiss Nelson, before Mohamed Elneny’s cross picked out Giroud who headed over.
Doncaster bravely held out until the 26th minute when Elneny found Sanchez and his pass released Walcott, who coolly finished for his first goal of the season with a delicate chip over Rovers keeper Ian Lawlor.
But Doncaster lived up to the Ferguson tradition of not letting Wenger have things his own way.
The Arsenal fans – albeit there were just 44,064 in the Emirates – were probably expecting a goal rush once the scoring was opened, but it never arrived.
Rovers even sent nerves jangling in the dying minutes as sub Liam Mandeville had a shot deflected just wide and Matty Blair headed against the bar.
Sanchez was trying to get some match sharpness and fitness, but at times it looked like the Chile forward could not be bothered, often throwing his arms up in frustration.
But Arsenal held on, they never put Doncaster away, as just like in the old days, Wenger found a Ferguson to be a very difficult opponent.